Do you make new year’s resolutions? Do you stick to them? Or do they quietly go away & fall off a cliff somewhere along the year’s journey? That was my experience year after year! Consequently, years ago, I decided to choose a word to focus on based on Ali Edwards OLW project {this was during my scrapbooking days}. This year my word is health.
The word actually picked me. I was diagnosed with a life changing medical prognosis in November and I am remaining as positive as I can be. It actually started back in my late twenties, before I even met Mr. M but it did not manifested itself aggressively thankfully throughout most of my life. As the Doctor said ” It has been kind to me”.
Anyway, I have experienced a full fledge array of emotions from disbelief to sadness to anger to an endless list of highs and lows. I have not started my therapy protocol as of today for a number of reasons, which I won’t go into here, but hopefully I will start shortly. I hope the side effects are not life altering and I can continue to enjoy life with my family and friends. My goal is to “live my best life” as is on trend to say right now.
And although I should live the most healthy life possible, always, anyway, this has given me a new purpose. I want to live a lively life so I can dance at my kids’ weddings and travel with Mr. M as empty nesters and continue to do all the things around our home and garden that I love to do.
The diagnosis has definitely given me a new perspective on life. I am trying really hard to look at it as a blessing and wake up call to live a healthy life with a purpose to stay strong and lively for myself, for my family, for life in general. I think this is the one little word that has held the most power and purpose in my life so far.
I have created a preliminary list of action items for my one little word of health for the year. I have implemented some of them and others I have yet to kick start. My plan is to have started all of these in some fashion by the end of the month.
As the year progresses, my hope is to refine some of these action items where I can evolve to other goals.
Health {one little word} action items
- eat more nutritionally minded
- drink more water
- exercise more
- drink less soda
- meditate and self reflect
- drink less alcohol
- organize more
- procrastinate less
If I bring the last two action items into check, it will minimize the stress level in my life which is optimal for anybody and everybody. I will check in with my word and progress here throughout the year, which I have never done before.
I have posted in the past about my OLW, but only at the start of the year. Although choosing a one little word can sometimes be difficult or stressful when nothing speaks to you, the true work lies in keeping the word front and center throughout the entire year.
Previous One Little Words:
And just for fun here is a picture of Ali Edwards and me back in the day when I would take scrapbooking workshops to improve my craft. This is where my one little word madness emerged.
Let me know in the comments if you also pick a word or make a resolution or have a different philosophy all together.
“The greatest wealth is health”
Virgil
Health is mine as well. We are ating better, not drinking as much,, and practicing self-care. My parents died young. I have no extended family left on my side. It is important to allow time for myself in order to reduce stress and live a healthier life. This is a positive step Mary Jo! May your therapy take hold and keep you healthy and safe.
Last year was living greener- squashed by COVID. So many chemicals and cleaning!
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn! Covid has affected all our lives at so many levels. Glad to hear you are making health a priority. Self care is so important. In my head I’m still the 14 year old sitting on your couch eating Lipton noodle soup & watching MTV. 🙂 Stay well old friend & thanks for the visit. 💛 XO- MJ
I really enjoyed your post MaryJo and am sorry to hear you are dealing with health issues but so happy to hear that you are really making health a priority in your life. I am also working on my health and self care after my own struggles. I wish you peace and health and sending big hugs.
Thank you so much Kim! Health seems like such an obvious priority but sometimes we need to be reminded that life can be fragile. Thank you for the visit and encouraging words sweet friend. Stay well. XO- MJ
MaryJo, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with ill health, but glad that you are approaching it with such purpose and positivity. Ordinarily I would never put links in my comment, but I have done two posts in my 12 years of blogging that might be of benefit to you with your One Little Word. I hope you will read them and perhaps find a thing or two that will be of use to you on your health journey. https://www.delightfulrepast.com/2016/09/sugar-toxin-or-treat.html and https://www.delightfulrepast.com/2018/04/intermittent-fasting-168-its-not-just.html – all the things in these two posts have helped me tremendously in multiple ways. Wishing you a well and wonderful 2022.
Thank you so much for your kind words Jean and extending some help. I will read your posts when I have a quiet moment to focus and take it all in. I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment. I truly appreciate it. XO- MaryJo
MaryJo, I’m sorry you received some not-so-good news but I do like your word Health for 2022! I haven’t received any bad news to date, but keep getting colds back to back. I think since Covid is waning, the regular round of flu bugs and such are showing their normal presence… I hope you are doing well despite the news! And I loved all the photographs you picked to share!! Happy to feature your post as part of a Valentine’s themed Share Your Style #334 this week.
Warm hugs,
Barb 🙂